WiFi in Rio - Where to find.

The best way to save money on Lan Houses are taking you WiFi gadget with you on you trips, right? 
But where you can connect that for free? See some of the best places to get get online without spending money.


Leblon
Shopping Mall Leblon - Av. Afrânio de Melo Franco 290 
Lebon Beach

Ipanema
Nossa Senhora da Paz Square
 Banana Jack - Rua Jangadeiros
 Irish Pub - Rua Jangadeiros 
 Restaurante Fronteira - Visconde de Pirajá
 Shenanigans - Visconde de Pirajá 
 Ipanema Beach

Copacabana
Modern Sound - Barata Ribeiro x Anita Garibaldi
Restaurant Galeto - Paula Freitas x Nossa Senhora de Copa
Copacabana Beach


Botafogo
Starbucks - Botafogo Praia Shopping 3o piso
Restaurant Kilograma - São Clemente x Bambina
Favela Santa Marta 

Flamengo
Oi Futuro - Dois de Dezembro x Praia do Flamengo
Santos Dumont Airport 


Jardim Botanico
Lage Park - Rua Jardim Botânico, 414


Downtown
Marques de Sapucaí - Sambadome
BESI Café - Rua do Carmo, 61
Sabor Saude Restaurant - Rua da Quitanda x Assembleia


Lapa
Kilograma Restaurant - Rua do Riachuelo,315


Gávea
Gavea Shopping Mall - Rua Marques de São Vicente, 52


Tijuca
Brasa Grill Restaurant - Rua Professor Gabizo x Rua Mariz e Barros
Iguatemi Shopping Mall - Rua Barão de São Francisco x Teodoro da Silva


Barra da Tijuca
Due Café - Av das Américas 500 - bl.9
Gama Filho University - Av das Américas 400
TGI Friday's - Barra Shopping Mall
Camarão e Cia - Via Park Shopping Mall - Av Ayrton Senna 500
Johnnie Peper - Via Park Shopping Mall - Av Ayrton Senna 500


We have to thank Ricardo Silva e Thiago Melo for the ideia of mapping the wifi spots in town, if you know a hotzone that is not on the map, contribute too.
Check out the full map at http://www.mapawifi.com.br/?cidade=rio+de+janeiro

How to get to Sugar Loaf?

It is very easy and safe get to Sugar Loaf without a taxi.

Buy the subway ticket "Expresso" ( Subway + Bus) in any subway station ( R$3,80).

Take the subway to Botafogo Station, when you leave the station choose the "Saída Rua Nelson Mandela" exit. Take the bus 511A that will be parked just outside the subway station.

The bus is just like that and it will be "511A Urca" written on it. Use the same ticket that you just used at the subway, the buses leave avery 30 min.



After about 10-12min the bus will get to Av. Pasteur, you have to leave the bus after the Medicine College (big building with lions statues by the stairs) and you walk about 3 min in the same direction until you see a big square and the Sugar Loaf.

To come back take the same bus at the same stop until the subway. It is very easy and cheap.

Special Tip: If you go on a clear day go by the end of the day to see the sunset from up there. It is amazing!!!

Informations:

Ticket Prices: 
Older than 12y.old R$ 44,00
Kids from 6 to 12 anos R$ 22,00
Under 6 - free
Above 60 years old -  50% discount (need to show id) .

Ano Novo Forte de Copacabana

You are planning to spend New Years Eve in Rio right? So you are asking yourself; What party go to? Which will be be best one, with the best view to the fireworks show?

If I could suggest one party to to be, I would tell you http://www.reveillonfortedecopacabana.com.br/ .

The party will take place at the Copacabana's Fort it is one of the safest a most beautiful places in Rio, in the right end of Copacabana beach (lifesaving station 6).

Don't wast any time, for now you can buy it on line on your credit card. I'm not sure if you be able to do it in November or December. 

Buying the ticket included drinks, food, the party with DJ and a Samba School Live Show and a amazing view of Copacabana beach.

Enjoy it.

PS: If you have any questions we will be glad to help you. Contact us at studionalapa@gmail.com

Centro Cultural Carioca

          Centro Cultural Carioca (Carioca Cultural Center) is located on Praça Tiradentes (Tiradentes Square) close to the Teatro Carlos Gomes.

CCC is a great place to listen some good brasilian music (not only samba, but most of it) played by well known names in town and the best of the new "harvest" of brasilian music.

          The 19th century building creates a great ambience, taking you back in time to the root of the carioca culture, experiencing: music, visual arts and dance.

          If you are staying for a little longer in Rio or living here, CCC has dancing lessons. They have different kinds of classes: zouk, gafieira (samba danced with a couple), cuban salsa and

special classes for men and weman to teach "samba no pé" (fast samba as you see on carnaval - by yourself).

          Even if your passing through Rio I would suggest you to take at least one class. It is a great opportunity to get in touch with the local culture and meet some new people.

CCC is more like a local´s place, not a tourists type like Carioca da Gema.

It may not be at your tourist guide but is a very nice place to go.

Centro Cultural Carioca by Isnard Manso

On this Saturday CCC presents:

Sururu Na Roda - very nice sambra group, with great vocal arrangements.

 

Print your flyer and get 25% discount

How do I get ticket to a football game?

If you are comming to Brazil, the country five times world cup champions... you must go watch a game at the stadium.

Maracanã is now closed for renovation to the 2014 World Cup´s, but you can go to the games at Engenhão Stadium or São Januario Stadium.

The best way to get tickets is online, http://www.ingressofacil.com.br/ you pay a tax and get it at home or at your hotel. You can pay with Mastercard our Dinners.

The major teams in Rio are Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense and Botafogo [in that order].

Enjoy the brazilian football...

Having trouble with websites in portuguese?

If you are planning your trip to Brazil and don´t speak portuguese you may have some problems with some websites that doesn´t have it in english.

A good way of deal with that is downloading Google´s Toolbar ( http://www.google.com/intl/pt-BR/toolbar/ie/index.html) it auto-translare the webpage to the language you choose. Or you choose to use Google Chrome, the also do it for you.

I hope I can help alot of people with that tip.

Rio is much more than Copacabana

Get to know other areas in Rio...

Do you know Lapa? Best nightlife in town. Since last summer some Lapa street are closed to traffic on weekend's nights... cariocas and tourists take over the streets.

Вы когда-нибудь попробовать "cachaça"?

Если вы любите пить водку, я предлагаю вам попробовать "cachaça", напиток использует, чтобы сделать "Caipirinha". Во-первых, пить "Caipirinha", то пить чистый дозы.Хорошее место, чтобы пойти в (Mague Seco)Манге Секо, напротив реки Scenarium.

Я предупреждаю вас, сильны.

Надеюсь, вам понравится.
  

Google Street View in Rio de Janeiro ( Nice Place Tips)

Since last week Rio de Janeiro is available on Google Street View, now it is easier to plan your trip to Rio... check out some nice spots before you come here.

A few tips:


Ipanema Beach (Classic, but from a different place)
http://goo.gl/maps/Q9pE

Copacabana Beach (Visit the Copacabana Fort - Traditional Cofe House)
http://goo.gl/maps/hml6 (that is the entrance)

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
There is a bar(behind the trees) by the water - one of the best places to have a drink and watch the sunset in town (take cash, they don't take credit cards)
http://goo.gl/maps/oiDB

Maracanã
You don't have to pay a lot of  money to take a taxi to Maracanã. Take the subway in any station between Botafogo - Central ( green light train - Pavuna) to Maracanã Station is close to the statium.
http://goo.gl/maps/TYSm

Tip: After the game ends stay in the stadium waiting for the crowd to leave. Buy a round-trip ticket ("bilhete duplo") so you will not have to buy your comeback ticket on Maracanã Station.


Santa Tereza
Very charming place in Rio with a bucolic atmosphere, many artisists has studios there. Nice place for a walk, lunch and take some photos.

(http://goo.gl/maps/TYSm) This is a very nice place to eat.

Tip: Take the "bondinho", the litlle yellow train to Santa Tereza. This is where you take the train ( http://goo.gl/maps/ovZJ ) a little hiden but it is not hard... take the subway to Carioca Station and walk to it.


Praça General Glicério
http://goo.gl/maps/sBbq
No street view there, but on saturdays mornings there is a free market that sells fresh fruits and vegetables. There are a group of "chorinho" (old school soft samba) for free by the trees. Nice place to spend the morning with the family.


Lapa Night Life

That is the place where evething happens at night (http://goo.gl/maps/sBbq) on weekend night the traffic is closed, the bars set their tables on the street... there are many samba houses, shows, bars, pizza places, sushi.

A place you must visit in Lapa is the "Rio Scenarium" (http://goo.gl/maps/3bQ7) used to be a untique store, in a few years became the number one favorite place for cariocas and tourists... but it still hold the same atmosphire (the decoration is amazing). Nice place to eat, drink and dance.
Tip: Average age 30+ to 40+



Other places to come... stay tooned.

Paraglid in Rio - 61% OFF

If you will be in Rio between Oct11th - Nov15th 2010 don´t loose this oportunity!

See Rio de Janeiro from the sky!!! Paraglid in Rio and take de DVD home for all your friends to see -

If you buy it in the next 31hours (ends at Saturday 3am - GMT) you get 61% OFF - R$ 179 (instead of R$ 460)
Buy with your credit card now and get the coupon to fly between Oct11th - Nov15th 2010.

http://www.ofertacarioca.com.br/

You will be taking off from the same place as these guys... Rio 3D

Have fun!!!

Taxi in Rio - How to save some money

As many big cities airport taxi drive´s try to make some extra money out of tourists, and Rio is not different.

I can tell you DO NOT PAY pre-charged rides... only pay by the clock. When you land on Rio´s International Airport/Bus Stations there will be some taxi companies offering taxis… don’t take those... it is VERY expensive. They will charge you R$100 for a R$30 ride.

What I tell people to do is: instead of taking a cab on a arrival floor (lower floor) you go to the departure floor (higher floor). When a taxi stops to drop off a passenger you get in, and ask you him the ride will be on the clock. (“Cobrança no taxímetro?”) most of the taxis (in that situation) agree on that. Because, they are not allowed to stop there, or they pick you or they are ridding empty all the way to the city on a express way.

Easy and way cheaper.

Day Light Saving Time - Horário de Verão

On October 17th starts the Daylight Saving Time in Brazil (Also know as "Horário de Verão")... thank God!!!!

Cariocas just love the longer days, it´s easy to see a man dressed in a suit stops on the beach after work, take off his clothes (bathing suit only) and run for a swim to enjoy the few hours of sun left.

The weather is starting to worm up... soon will be hot again (considering that, as a cariocas my self, we see 15oC weather as a cold weather/ 12oC is winter).
When the weather is hotter it feels like nobody can stay at home. If you go for a walk and the beach are full of people ridding bikes, long boarding, playing volleyball... the bars are full, people drinking after works with friends... all that in a weekday. Can you imagine the weekends??? The bars in Lapa go crazy, especially the Samba Houses... during the summer, everyday is a night out...

 If you are planning to come to Rio, don´t forget your sunscreen and your bathing suit. Don´t worry bringing you beach sandals… when you get here you´ll get your “havaianas” it´s your first step to become a “soul-carioca”.

New Years Eve - Reveillon 2011 - In Rio

So... you what to spend the New Years Eve in Rio, right? But is that works? Are asking yourself what is the best for you? Maybe we can help.

Basicaly there are 3 way to spend the New Years Eve:

1st - Outside of Copacabana - There are great parties all over the town with open bar (licour/food), but tthat is not a option for most of people that comes to Rio for the first time.

2nd - Go to Copacabana beach to watch the 15-20 minutes firework show and enjoy the free shows on the beach. The city sets 4 big stages on the beach with many attractions;

3rd - Go to Copacabana beach to watch the fireworks and go to a private/hotel parties in Copacabana (don't try to see the fireworks in Copacabana beach and go to a distance place - it'll be too crowded - choose a walking distance)

Very Nice Tips

1- If you want to have the best view of the fireworks on Copacabana choose the left side of the beach (close to Leme) the right side (close to Ipanema) is aways very crowded. 

2- After the show is over stay on the beach for at least 30 min, most part of the people leave the beach a few minutes after the FW show is over (at least they try) it is a looot of people walking many directions... it's always confusing in the first half-hour... it is when and where happens most of the robberies.

3- Use closed shoes, allot of people take champagne bottles to the beach... that make allot of broken glass on the floor and allot of cutted feet.

4- Don't take taxis after 7pm Dec31st - Jan 1st 12pm -At that time the police is 100% focus in organizing the crowd and avoid problems. So, allot of none-licensed taxis are on the street... and all of the taxis charge alooot of money for a ride.   

     It is a great party... I'm sure you'll enjoy vary much.

     If I remember something else I'll add to it... if the is any other questions let me know.